Jaguar XE Enjoys Triumphant Paris Debut

This is the car Jaguar has needed for quite some time, but better late than never. Making its official debut here at the 2014 Paris Motor Show is the all-new Jaguar XE. To coincide with its live unveiling, Jaguar has released additional details about this BMW 3 Series fighter. Described as THE driver’s car in the global mid-size sedan segment, the XE not only has a dynamic design, but also three performance-oriented engines and a double wishbone suspension for precise handling.

Europe’s base engine will be a 2.0-liter turbo diesel with 161 horsepower and 280 lb-ft of torque. However, Europe and the US will both receive the top-end option: the 3.0-liter supercharged V6 with 340 hp and 331 lb-ft. In between these two, Euro buyers can also opt for that same diesel, only with a power boost to 180 hp and 317 lb-ft. The other engine option is a turbocharged 2.0-liter four gas engine rated at 200 hp and 206 lb-ft, or 240 hp and 250 lb-ft. The diesels are offered with a choice of a six-speed manual gearbox and optional eight-speed auto. The gas engines come exclusively with the eight-speed. Jaguar also announced the trim levels: the base SE, Prestige, Portfolio, R-Sport, and S.

Various features include an eight-inch touchscreen, heated front seats, two-tone instrument panel, aluminium trim, Meridian sound system, bi-xenon headlights with LED DRLs, 10-way electric front seats, and 19-inch alloy wheels. The idea here is an XE for numerous budgets, but it’s the S we like the most: 0-60 mph in 4.9 seconds and a top speed of 155 mph. Orders are now underway in the UK, but US sales won’t begin until sometime in 2016.